TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo women's basketball team won its fourth straight game on Sunday, a 65-35 drubbing of Loyola Maryland at Savage Arena.
The 30-point margin of victory is the Rockets' largest of the season and the most since a 31-point win at Western Michigan last season on Feb. 15.
Toledo (5-2) struggled to find its rhythm offensively to begin the game and trailed Loyola Maryland (4-5) early on. Once their shots started falling, however, the Rockets grabbed control of the game and didn't look back. UT's defense held the Greyhounds to single-digit point totals in the first three quarters and forced 18 turnovers to help the cause as well.
The 35 points allowed are the fewest since an 86-33 win vs. Saint Francis (Pa.) on Dec. 8, 2021.
"I'm glad we got the win today, and I'm glad we were able to extend our lead so we could get everybody in the game," head coach Tricia Cullop said. "With the schedule we've played, it's been tough to go deep into our bench. Those kids deserved to play today and I was glad we were able to get them some extended minutes. I was disappointed in our defensive effort in the first half but they responded in the second half, which shows their maturity."
Toledo's backcourt duo of Sophia Wiard and Quinesha Lockett led the way offensively, scoring 13 and 10 points, respectively. Hannah Noveroske added a season-high nine points off the bench and both Khera Goss and Sammi Mikonowicz scored seven points apiece. Lockett led Toledo with eight rebounds, and Mikonowicz grabbed six boards.
All 13 players that dressed saw action on Sunday and all 13 tallied at least one rebound. Ten different players scored, and freshman Macey Fegan notched the first two points of her collegiate career.
Loyola Maryland's Lex Therien was averaging a double-double entering the game and achieved that feat on Sunday. She led all players with 16 points and 17 rebounds, accounting for nearly half of her team's offensive production.
The Rockets will play their next two games on the road at Oakland on Dec. 17 and at Duke on Dec. 20. They will return home to face Hillsdale in their final non-conference game of the year before beginning MAC play at Miami on Jan. 3.
1st Quarter
- After an almost four-minute scoreless battle, Loyola Maryland scored the first basket of the game at the 6:24 mark.
- The Rockets didn't get on the scoreboard until the 4:39 mark of the quarter on a three-pointer from Sophia Wiard. That kick-started a 9-2 run that gave UT a 9-5 lead.
- Toledo carried a 12-9 advantage into the break.
2nd Quarter
- Wiard opened the quarter with back-to-back threes to give Toledo an 18-9 lead.
- Sammi Mikonowicz scored on consecutive possessions to push the lead into double-digits, 22-11, with 6:37 to go in the half.
- Toledo scored twice in the final minute to take a 29-16 lead into the locker room.
- Wiard led all players with 13 first-half points, connecting on 4-of-6 field goals.
3rd Quarter
- The Rockets really took off in the third quarter, scoring the first 14 points to take a commanding 43-16 lead.
- An and-one by Khera Goss was followed by a basket from Jessica Cook to give Toledo a 48-20 lead with 2:18 to go in the third quarter.
- Hannah Noveroske scored with 29 seconds remaining to put the score at 52-23, giving the Rockets a 29-point lead heading into the final frame.
4th Quarter
- Noveroske's basket pushed Toledo's lead into the 30's for the first time, making it 57-26 with 8:00 to go.
- The Rockets' emptied the bench in the fourth quarter and held onto their sizable lead for the remainder of the game.
- Emmi Rinat scored five points in the fourth quarter, and Fegan's free throws capped Toledo's scoring in the 65-35 victory.
